Responding to a Violent or Traumatic Event

The U.S. Department of Education’s Practical Information on Crisis Planning: A Guide for Schools and Communities outlines a crisis management model that includes four phases: Mitigation/Prevention, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery. The last phase, recovery, is focused on restoring the learning and teaching environment after a crisis, including undertaking measures to restore infrastructure, cope with the emotional effect of the crisis, and provide a supportive and caring environment so learning can resume.

This section of the Center’s Web site includes links and resources to assist campus personnel with immediate and long-term recovery efforts following a crisis or trauma. Other relevant sections include Emergency Preparedness, which lists comprehensive planning guides and other resources focused primarily on proactive planning rather than response, and Suicide, which lists resources related to student mental health issues and suicide.

Another helpful resource is Preventing Violence and Promoting Safety in Higher Education Settings: Overview of a Comprehensive Approach, the Center’s violence prevention framework, a comprehensive approach to addressing a broad array of campus violence and safety issues.